Deadly Accident Involving Library Employee Reinforces Message of Hunting Safety Class

After an Oct. 23 hunting accident took the life of Grant G. Sweet, the Cromaine District Library's building manager, library officials considered canceling a hunting safety talk scheduled for today.

Officials decided to move ahead as planned because they knew Sweet, who helped organize a similar session last year — the library's first — and believed strongly in hunting safety, would have wanted it go on. In addition, Carbon Express, based in Flushing, donated a $150 tree stand vest to be given away after the class in Sweet's memory to encourage participation. Sweet's death was apparently tree stand related.

"If one person is helped listening to (the speaker) talking about Grant's accident, it's important," Carol Taggart, the library's marketing director, told a group of about 15 who had arrived at the this morning to start the session.

The presenter, Timothy N. Pifher of the Flint Regional Chapter of Safari Club International, said afterward that accidents involving tree stands are a far greater problem than those involving firearms.

"It is the biggest cause of hunting accidents out there right now," he said. "The tree stands, it's mushrooming. … If you hunt, at some point everyone knows someone who has fallen from a tree stand."

A person who weighs 200 pounds falling from a height of 17 feet hits the ground at 22 miles per hour with 3,200 pounds of force, warned a safety video that was played during the session that outlined methods to use tree stands properly. Often, internal injuries result.

During his talk, Pifher recommended vests that are much easier to put on that those using the more traditional harness for protection. He said while they are more expensive at $80-$150, they are the least expensive form of life insurance.

Pifher also focused on changes in rules on crossbows designed to allow younger hunters to use them more because they don't have the strength to pull back a compound bow. He also stressed the safety features of weapon, noting the string  when released is powerful enough to decapitate fingers.

Although not as prevalent of a problem because of increased education, Pifher said there are important rules to observe involving guns.

"We could prevent every accidental gun shooting in the country today," he said. "If it's never pointed at anyone, it's not going to hurt anybody."

The audience was mostly children and moms, which wasn't surprising for Pifher, who noted that the fastest growing segment of hunters are young women and mothers.

Karen Morgan, who won the drawing for the vest and gave it to her 12-year-old son, Joshua, said Pifher brought the right message. "He did an excellent job of educating that safety should be the primary goal when they go out hunting," said Morgan, who lives in Tyrone Township.

The first thing hunters should remember, Pifher said, is to focus on their own actions. That will eliminate many potentially dangerous situations, he said.

"If I don't take care of me, then is it going to make any difference to anyone else out there?" Pifher said. "What we want you to do is be safe."

To watch a video clip of Pifher discussing hunting safety, click .